John Edwards says Shrum was wrong.

[madfloridian]

Shrum was wrong

"Edwards: Shrum was wrong"

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (D) today rejected the assertion that political calculations were his overriding concern in casting his 2002 vote in favor of the use-of-force resolution against Iraq.

"Political people talk to you all the time," he said following a speech on Capitol Hill to the International Association of Fire Fighters. "There is only one decision maker and that is me."

Former Edwards consultant Bob Shrum alleges in a forthcoming memoir that he and several other Edwards political advisers counseled the senator to vote for the resolution in order to maintain his viability as a presidential candidate in 2004."

We keep falling for the stuff of the consultants too much. Shrum's been hanging with Mr. Matalin too much. A neat story from FDL.

Million Dollar Assholes: Carville, Shrum & Greenberg

I saw a documentary that blew me away today but I don't mean in a good way. It was called Our Brand is Crisis, about how the firm of Carville, Greenberg and Shrum (as in James Ragin' Cajun Carville and Bob $5 million man Shrum) travel around the world meddling in political situations they know little about for fun and profit when they're not busy losing Presidential elections.

The film takes place in the Bolivian election of 2002, when Carville et. al. convinced the Bolivian people they needed to elect Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, aka Goni, an American-born candidate who speaks Spanish with an accent and who had failed miserably once before as President during the 90s. He is elected by the thinnest of margins, only to be forced to resign 14 months later amid riots that left 100 people dead."

And their buddy is holed up the USA now, with Bolivia trying to extradite. I posted the trailer of Our Brand is Crisis in the video forum. I will look for it.

[ellisonz]

1. I'm pretty much dying to see this flick when I have free time...

Democracy my ass.

[madfloridian]

3. Well, keep track cause this post will drop with few responses.

It is defending him, and the other one attacking Edwards because of what Shrum said will be going strong for days.

A shame, really.

[ellisonz]

4. I've been wrapped up in the 300 threads (anti-distortion).

I'm avoiding 2008 for now...can't choose between Obama and Edwards, and a hardline stance in support of Kucinich.

Now if only every DUer who went to see 300 would have bought a copy of this instead.

Spring break! Taking the rest of the day off from papers and research.

x(

[McCamy Taylor]

5. Edwards/Obama 2008! Why choose?

[ellisonz]

9. I think that's probably the most pragmatic ticket...but primaries are strange things.

This Deaniac is in wait and see mode.

;-)

Run Al, run! }(

Gore/Obama 08 - The Dream Team

[madfloridian]

2. Here's the video I mentioned.

Shrum's been a busy guy working with Carville.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/770

And here's nice video of John Edwards about Iraq.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5FmSZEjgV4

[Czolgosz]

6. Watch the bullshit "Schrum said" threads burn up over 50 posts while this one sinks. Typical

[Catchawave]

7. KnR :)))

:toast:

[madfloridian]

11. Exactly right.....

Found this way down the line already. :hi:

[Hippo_Tron]

8. Shrum is a horrible strategist but he's very good at debate prep and speech writing

Unfortunately like all other consultants he tries to influence candidates even if they try to avoid it.

[madfloridian]

10. Consultants have too much sway over the party.

:hi:

[SaveElmer]

12. So his original vote was not a political calculation...then...

He has nothing to apologize for...if he took his original vote seriously as he now says he did, made a decision based on the evidence as it was presented and as he understood it, why then no apology is required...he was simply doing his job...

[madfloridian]

13. Edwards is being open and honest about his vote.

Maybe some others should try that instead of telling anti-war people who don't like it to vote for someone else.

I defended Edwards because did not tell the truth. I think Hillary and Bill Clinton, just a short time out of the White House,....knew Iraq was no immediate threat and did not speak up.

I believe they could have stopped this war.

[SaveElmer]

14. And do you have a single shred of evidence for that assertion...

And I'm sorry, but Edwards simply looks weak...he can't even get his apology straight....does he take responsibility or not? He seems to be blaming everyone but himself...Bush, Clinton, and his political advisors...

Hillary has given a straightforward answer to criticism of her IWR vote...you may not like that answer, but she has been consistent about it from the beginning...and she is right...if her IWR vote is the paramount issue for you (and you are in a significant minority there), then there are other candidates for you to vote for...as I'm sure you will

Kerry, Clinton, Edwards, Cleland, Harkin etc...all serious politicians in my view, have nothing to apologize for...

[madfloridian]

15. I don't care if she apologizes for her vote....

that is not my issue. I think her answer showed who she was going to appeal to.

[madfloridian]

16. This one drops while the one that attacks him keeps thriving.

:kick: